The relationship between biomarkers of fungal allergy and lung damage in asthma.

Clin Exp Allergy

Institute for Lung Health/Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.

Published: January 2017

Background: Immunological biomarkers are the key to the diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and fungal sensitisation, but how these relate to clinically relevant outcomes is unclear.

Objectives: To assess how fungal immunological biomarkers are related to fixed airflow obstruction and radiological abnormalities in moderate to severe asthma.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 431 asthmatics. Inflammatory biomarkers, lung function and an IgE fungal panel to colonising filamentous fungi, yeasts and fungal aeroallergens were measured. CT scans were scored for the presence of radiological abnormalities. Factor analysis informed the variables used in a k-means cluster analysis. Fixed airflow obstruction and radiological abnormalities were then mapped to these immunological variables in the cluster analysis.

Results: 329 (76.3%) subjects were sensitised to ≥ 1 fungi. Sensitisation to Aspergillus fumigatus and/or Penicillium chrysogenum was associated with a lower post-bronchodilator FEV compared with those not sensitised to fungi ((73.0 (95% CI 70.2-76) vs. 82.8 (95% CI 78.5-87.2)% predicted, P < 0.001), independent of atopic status (P = 0.005)), and an increased frequency of bronchiectasis (54.5%, P < 0.001), tree-in-bud (18.7%, P < 0.001) and collapse/consolidation (37.5%, P = 0.002). Cluster analysis identified three clusters: (i) hypereosinophilic (n = 71, 16.5%), (ii) high immunological biomarker load and high frequency of radiological abnormalities (n = 34, 7.9%) and (iii) low levels of fungal immunological biomarkers (n = 326, 75.6%).

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: IgE sensitisation to thermotolerant filamentous fungi, in particular A. fumigatus but not total IgE, is associated with fixed airflow obstruction and a number of radiological abnormalities in moderate to severe asthma. All patients with IgE sensitisation to A. fumigatus are at risk of lung damage irrespective of whether they meet the criteria for ABPA.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cea.12848DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

radiological abnormalities
20
immunological biomarkers
12
fixed airflow
12
airflow obstruction
12
lung damage
8
fungal immunological
8
obstruction radiological
8
abnormalities moderate
8
moderate severe
8
filamentous fungi
8

Similar Publications

Aims: Atrial septal defect (ASD) and partial abnormal pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) are noncyanotic congenital heart defects (CHD) that produce a left-to-right shunt. This single-center retrospective study aimed to assess the hemodynamic impact of isolated ASD, isolated PAPVC, and ASD-associated PAPVC using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods And Results: From our CMR registry (2002-2024), 110 patients were included: isolated ASD (n=64), isolated PAPVC (n=18), ASD-associated PAPVC (n=28, mostly sinus venosus septal defects).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Diastolic dysfunction (DD) is defined as impaired left ventricular (LV) relaxation, caused by structural or functional heart diseases. We sought to assess the role of cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) as a tool to evaluate LV DD in patients with normal EF using the diastolic expansion index (DEI), as compared to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) as the gold standard.

Methods: Patients presenting with atypical chest pain with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and having a normal LV ejection fraction on TTE underwent CCTA using a dual source CT scanner.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To evaluate the Neuropathy Score-Reporting and Data System (NS-RADS) MRI grading system in conjunction with electrodiagnostic (EDx) testing for radial neuropathy at the elbow.

Materials And Methods: Patients presenting between 2010 and 2023 with suspected radial neuropathy who underwent both EDx testing in the form of electromyography and nerve conduction studies and MRI within a 12-month period were evaluated. Three blinded radiologists used the NS-RADS grading system to evaluate nerve entrapment (E grades), muscle denervation (M grades) proximally within the supinator/extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB), and more distally within the forearm extensor muscles.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: For early diagnosis and inquiry into the pathophysiology of Sjögren disease (SjD), salivary secretion and component levels, and salivary glands' uptakes in sialoscintigraphy were examined, in this cross-sectional study.

Methods: Patients who visited our hospital with suspected SjD between April 2016 and March 2020 were checked for unstimulated salivary secretion and β2-microglobulin, Na+, and cortisol levels in saliva. The patients who showed any abnormal salivary test results underwent sialoscintigraphy; the uptakes in the parotid, submandibular, and thyroid glands were compared using paired t test.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic multisystem phakomatosis that can affect the skin, bones, and nervous system. NF1 typically presents with skin lesions, including freckles, café-au-lait macules, plexiform neurofibromas, and bony dysplasia, and is usually accompanied by a family history of the disorder. Ocular manifestations vary, but iris Lisch nodules and optic nerve gliomas are the most common features.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!